In their recorded work, the band known as A Weather is beautifully austere, pacing the playing and songs with the steady calm of a marathon runner. In a live setting - if their performance at Mississippi Studios on Saturday is any indication - they bristle with nervous energy, resulting in occasionally lackadaisical playing and an overall hesitance and discomfort... Full story »

In our hometown, genre lines are constantly blurring, if not disappearing completely, and a growing number of groups are infusing often traditional styles, particularly classical and jazz, with a bit of indie rock energy. None are doing it more prominently than the Portland Cello Project, a group that packs anywhere from four to sixteen cellists on stage to perform... Full story »

The slate has now been wiped clean by songwriter/singer/multi-instrumentalist Charlie Salas-Humara and his musical partner, drummer Joe Kelly. This time around, with "Entropy," they envision Panther to be an artful pop band. Full story »

With "The Roots, the Leaves," Cars & Trains patches together its rather straightforward folk and pop songs with the warp and clatter and thud of modern electronic production styles. It's a welcome addition to his sound, however, and one that feels natural throughout the 10 tracks of "The Roots, the Leaves." Full story »

Jurado's lyrics are unshakable. For a long while, they were primarily fictional tales of hard-luck cases at the end of their ropes or faced with tough moral and spiritual decisions, sung with straightforward language and a great deal of conviction. Full story »